Given the fact that she used to work in front of a camera, I expected her to be able to deliver the speech without any major flubs. I think she hit all the notes but failed to give anybody goosebumps outside of the party faithful.

She has probably sealed the deal with some doubtful Republicans, however, it's one thing to take pot shots at Obama and Biden in front of that crowd and quite another to go one on one.

I still think she and McCain look awkward side-by-side and viscerally I think it remains somewhat of a hard sell.

is an old joke - but she delivered it well.

The McCain camp has adopted the message of change which means Obama is controlling the conversation. Much of this convention, particularly tonight, centered on John McCain's "maverick" status and the introduction of his spunky sidekick and their combined passion for fighting corruption - even within their own party.

The problem for them is that the vast majority of the corruption is within their own party. The largest cesspool of corruption is the administration, which John McCain has sided with more than 90% of the time. Once the administration is gone, fighting corruption is no longer the priority. We needed Senator McCain to stand up to the administration more than he actually did. It's over.

With the departure of this administration we will need to rebuild the economy, explore new sources of energy, provide affordable access to health care, maintain our technology leadership role, take care of our returning military, improve our education system - and that only represents a start.

McCain and Palin are applying for jobs that no longer exist. At not even a week out and awaiting McCain's acceptance speech, the ticket already feels stale.

She said it and it's out there. I don't think anything was taken out of context.

I noticed that it hasn't received as much attention as Jesse Jackson's open mic gaffe.

And, no problem on the epithet, Peggy. One of the gripes I've always had about you is that you wouldn't say shit even if you had a mouthful of it. Now I know you can call like you see 'em - just not in your column.

The main stream media needs to vet Sarah Palin because, clearly, John McCain didn't. We're all waiting for more information.

The Republicans may selectively stop referring to the Enquirer as a reliable news source since they're now reporting that Sarah Palin had an affair with her husband's business partner.

We'll see...

I actually found it on Huffington (I've yet to go to the Enquirer site); here you go:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/03/mccain-camp-battles-natio_n_123696.html

There is no good reason for the main stream media to back off vetting Mrs. Palin. McCain's bratty backing out of an interview with Larry King is indicative of his true character. Simply because Campbell Brown asked some legitimate questions of Tucker Bounds, McCain chose to cut off his nose to spite his face. By choosing Palin he has firmed up his support with white Republican women, but he hasn't yet sealed the deal with the independent and Democratic women he needs to win in November.

In fact, choosing Palin was cutting off his nose to spite his face. He could have selected a more qualified candidate - including a more qualified woman candidate - but he didn't. We know what Mike Murphy and Peggy Noonan think, and Ben Stein isn't wild about the selection, either. There have to be many others who aren't revealing themselves on hot mics.

As for me, I'm thrilled. Every time one of my friends goes off on a tangent about Mrs. Palin, I remind them that they're lobbying for a more substantial candidate and invite them to reconsider what they're saying.

McCain can get pissed off at the media and limit his appearances to Fox, Glen Beck and sympathetic right-wing radio shows and sing to the choir. Jon Stewart has proved that access isn't necessary to success - they queue up to be on his show.

So the Straight Talk Express is now the Shut-up Express and it's on the road to nowhere.

Pit Bull with lipstick. Old joke apropos of the Republican party these days.

I think the way I originally heard it went: What's the difference between a soprano and a pit bull? Lipstick.

This convention has been creepy. Just really, really creepy.

I seem to recall hearing something a few months back about Republicans who could finance their own campaigns were being encouraged to run by the RNC.

Aren't they going to have to spend a lot of money defending seats in the House and Senate along with down ticket races?

I was out for a while. Who broke the story on McCain being a POW?

I think in some darkly strange way they get off on it. It's disturbing.

Boy howdy, was that underwhelming. I'm left wondering if they paid the protesters to help wake up the audience. Every time the camera panned the audience somebody was yawning.

I agree. Mrs. Palin only fans the flames of partisan rancor.

Maybe in a decade Mrs. Palin will be Hillary's peer. Those pantsuits were hard-won, Sarah dear.

Act Naturally was originally by Buck Owens, but point well taken.